2026 HR Checklist: Steps to Start the New Year Right
January 29, 2026 4:11 pm2026 HR Checklist: Steps to Start the New Year Right
Can you believe we’re in the year 2026?! If your business feels anything like ours, it’s already off and running in a big way. Each new year brings new legislation, updated documents, and changing regulations, so HR professionals should ensure that a few important basics are up to date and compliant.
2026 California Minimum Wage
Effective January 1, 2026, the state minimum wage was increased to $16.90 per hour. This also increases the minimum annual salary for an exempt employee to $70,304. Several cities and counties also increased their local minimum wages this year, and a full list is found here.
The minimum wage for fast food employees remains $20.00 per hour, but minimum wages for certain healthcare employees will increase effective June 1, 2026. We recommend checking with legal counsel if you are a healthcare facility and have questions about these requirements.
Provide the New Workplace Know Your Rights Notice by February 1st
California law requires employers to provide a variety of notices to employees, and a new notice deserves special attention. The Workplace Know Your Rights Act document must be given to all employees no later than February 1, 2026 and annually thereafter. This may be in print or via email, but state law requires employers to keep records of compliance (documentation of having provided the notice) for three years, including the date that each notice is provided or sent. Employers must also provide employees with an opportunity to designate an emergency contact who should be notified if the employee is arrested at the worksite.
This form may be downloaded inEnglish and Spanish.
Refresh Your New Hire Kit and Labor Law Posters
New employees must receive several state-required notices, which must also be posted in your workplace for employees’ reference throughout the year. These notices are often updated with new state or federal information, so we recommend refreshing your new hire packets and checklists annually. Earlier this month, Sierra HR provided links to all current new hire notices in English and Spanish.
One of the notices in your New Hire Kit, regardingleave and accommodations for survivors of qualifying acts of violence, must also be provided to all employees annually and upon request. We recommend sending this form along with the Workplace Know Your Rights document each year.
We suggest ordering your Labor Law posters from a trusted source such as theCal Chamber Store or the Labor Law Center. Don’t forget to fill in the information regarding pay days, workers’ compensation, and emergency phone numbers on your new posters!
2026 IRS Standard Rate for Mileage Reimbursement
Effective January 1, 2026, the IRS has increased its standard rate for mileage reimbursement to 72.5 cents per mile for most businesses. Travel in service of charitable organizations may be reimbursed at 14 cents per mile (no change from 2025.) Remember that employees must be reimbursed for expenses necessary for performing their jobs, which includes work-related travel in a personal vehicle (excluding their typical commute to and from work.)
Update Your Employee Handbook
If Sierra HR Partners has prepared your Employee Handbook, our Year In Review policy update program is underway. 2026 brings policy updates regarding bias mitigation training, wage ranges, leave and accommodations for victims of violence, and other topics. We are working hard to get all clients’ handbooks updated, and we appreciate your patience with the process! If you have a specific deadline in mind for distributing the new handbook to your team, or if you have any other questions, please let us know.
If Sierra HR has not prepared your Employee Handbook, this may be a great time for an audit to ensure that your policies are up-to-date with California law and your current company practices. Please contact one of our certified Consultants for more details!
As always, contact one of our certified Consultants if you have questions about any of these topics. We’re here to help!
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